Display figure



A N W36. N. s. ELL$WORTH I wmgfifidwg DI SPLAY FIGURE Filed May 25, 1934 f? INVENTOR. NEALILIE $1 07 ELnLfiWO-MTW V ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 7, I936 tlhl'i'hfi STATES PATENT @FFHQE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to display figures and has for its objects such figures respectively made from a single sheet of flat material, including a supporting base, and which figures are formed to simulate objects in three dimensions.

Other objects will appear in the specification and drawing.

Fig. l is a front view of a blank of sheet material preparatory to folding to form a figure.

Fig. 2 is a reduced view of the blank of Fig. 1

in the process of folding to form the figure.

Fig 3 is an enlarged front view of the blank of Fig. 1 completely set up.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of Fig. 3 taken along the line 1-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a blank of sheet material for forming another figure.

Fig. 6 is a reduced view of the blank of Fig. 5 in the process of folding to form the figure.

Fig. 7 is a view of Fig. 6 in a slightly further stage of folding.

Fig, 8 is a View of the blank of Fig. 5 completely set up.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View of Fig. 8 taken along the line 9-8 thereof.

Fig. 10 is a reduced rear view of the head of Fig. 8.

In detail, Fig. 1 is a blank of semi-rigid sheet material adapted to be folded to simulate a female figure, which blank comprises a base I,

and body portions generally designated 2, 3, extending respectively oppositely from two opposite edges of the base.

The body portions 2, 3 are foldable along lines i to bring the two portions in opposed relation with said portions extending generally vertically perpendicularly to the base with the feet of the respective body portions connecting with the opposite edges of the base and legs 5, 6 on each portion respectively, extending outwardly therefrom.

Although part of the body portion 3, particularly the legs and head, are adapted to form a portion of the front of the body when folded, it will be seen that the greatest part of the figure when viewed from the front, is a portion of the body portion 2, therefore in distinguishing between the body portions in the description, I will designate the portions 2 as the front body 50 portion and the portion 3 as the rear body portion.

The legs of the rear body portion are provided in outward extension thereof, in order, with a.

trunk l, rear head portion 3 and a face head por- 55 tion 5, the latter adapted to be folded forwardly over the rear head portion as will later be described. Trunk l is provided with laterally projecting arms lil extending outwardly of the opposite side edges thereof. 60 The front body portion is formed with a semicircular skirt II and a trunk [2, said skirt and trunk being positioned transversely of the longitudinal axis of the body before being folded, the legs connecting with the peripheral edge of the skirt at one end of the hemispherical portion. 5

In folding the blank of Fig. l the lowermost portion of the blank as seen in said figure or body portion 2, is folded rearwardly behind body portion 3, best seen in Fig. 2, to bring the front and rear body portions in substantially opposed rela- 10 tion and the skirt ll is then bowed around the front side of the body 3. This produces a sort of inverted funnel-shaped skirt with the lower edge well spaced from the body and brings the trunk l2 around to the front side of the trunk l of the 15 body 3, in reality making the greater portion of the skirt and all of trunk l2 the front part of the figure.

The trunk l2 and skirt are retained in this front position by means of a tab l3 on the free i0 end of the skirt engaging in a slot 14 formed in that portion of the skirt that is adjacent the point of attachment of the legs 5 with said skirt, this tab and slot connection being in the rear of the figure, hence not visible from the front. Fig. 2 25 illustrates the folding steps above described.

The trunk portion 52 is slightly longer and wider than trunk l on the body portion 3 and I provide a tab ll at the upper edge of trunk l2 and a slot l3 adjacent the neck of trunk 1, so that 30 outwardly bowing the trunk i2 from the waist to the neck, the tab l'l will engage in slot l8 and the bust of the figure will be simulated in contour when the figure is viewed from the side.

The next step in forming the figure is the form- 3 ing of the head. The head portion 8 and the face head portion 9 are each provided with ears 26, 2| at their opposite side edges respectively, and vertically extending slots 22, 23 are provided at the junction of ears 2Q, 2i respectively with the 40 head portions, said slots extending downwardly from the upper edges of the connection between the ears and head portions before folding of the face head portion over the portion 8.

The face or front head portion 9 is larger in width and height than the rear head portion 8, so that when portion 9 is bent forwardly and downwardly along line it over the rear head por tion, and the ears are interlocked at slots 22, 23, the face portion of the head is bowed outwardly as best seen in Fig. 4 and is spaced away from the front surface of the portion 8, thereby giving the head as well as the bust and skirt a three dimensional appearance.

The exposed rear and front surfaces of the front and rear body portions are imprinted with surface printing to indicate the features of clothing, etc., and when folded the bowed and overlapping parts are adapted to coact with all other portions of the figure to complement the printing on said other portions, such imprinting not being extensively indicated in order to avoid as much as possible confusing the structural features with su h printed matter.

Figs. 5 to 16 indicate a male figure in various views. This figure comprises a base I, a rear body portion generally designated 3, and front body portion said front and rear body portions extending oppositely from opposite edges of base I and bendable at i at the opposite edges of said base to bring the body portions 2, 3 into a generally opposed relation extendsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the base portion, best indicated in Fig. 7.

The two body portions of this figure are also provided with legs 5, E3, the same as in the female figure, but instead of providing the rear body portion 3 with arms as in Figs. 1 to 3, I provide arms id on the opposite lateral edges of the front portion only. The trunks of rear and front body portions of the male figure, respectively designated F and i2 extend longitudinally outwardly of the legs and the rear body portion is formed along its lateral edges with outwardly projecting extensions 25 simulating the outline of a coat.

The rear body portion 3' of the male figure has an elongated relatively narrow neck portion 26, and a large head portion 9' that is adapted to fold forwardly over the neck portion 26 along the line H9.

The front body portion 2 has a bust or upper trunk portion 2? and a transverse slot 28 is provided at the waist of the front body member. When the front and rear body portions are in opposed relation the elongated portion 2'! is folded along the line 253 of the figure and a tab 39 on the outer end portion is engaged in slot 28, the portion 271 being bowed outwardly to form the bust and the front and rear body portions being in engagement with each other at a point behind the bowed portion 2?. In order to hold the two portions 2, 3' together and to properly simulate the male figure, I provide slots 32 on the rear portion 3 that are spaced on either side of a medial line extending longitudinally of said portion 3 at points to pass the arms iii therethrough, as best seen in Figs. 6, 7. The coat projections are then bent forwardly along lines 33, to give a coat appearance when the figure is viewed from the side, as seen in Fig. 7.

The head portion 9' of the male figure, instead of engaging at the sides as in Figs. 1 to 3, is provided with lateral extensions 3 having tabs 35 that interlock behind the neck 26 through slot 36 in the neck, the face of the head being bowed outwardly as seen in Fig. 9. Ears 3? are cut in the head 9 on opposite sides along the fold lines 38 of the extensions 3 which pro- .iect laterally to simulate the ears of the head, as best seen in Fig. 8.

Other forms can, of course, be provided, such as animals of the lower classes, fowls, etc., but the features of wrapping one portion around another to form the head or body of the figures, and the insertion of arms of one body portion through the other to secure the parts in position, and the provision of opposed body portions, all arranged to simulate a display figure in three dimensions, are thought new and novel irrespective of the sin ace characteristics of the figures.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A display figure of semi-rigid sheet material comprising a pair of opposed members extending generally vertically, one of said members having outlined edges generally simulating the outline of a specific object when viewed from the front, and the other membe shaped to simulate the contour of a substantial portion of the upper half of such Obj-s lt when viewed from the side.

2. A display figure of semi-rigid sheet material comprising a pair of opposed members extending generally vertically, one of said members provided with an extension at a point spaced above the lower end thereof, said extension being outlined and shaped to coact with said opposed member to define a portion of the contour of the figure when viewed from the side.

3. A blank of semi-rigid material shaped and adapted to be folded to form a figure simulating an animal, which blank when folded provides spaced supporti legs and a body portion and a portion, said body portion comprising a pair of opposed members, or of which members is provided with extensions jecting outwardly from opposite edges ther of and the other memher being provided with a pair of slots adapted to receive exten ions theret'hrough for secu ing the said "rs together and said extensions being shaped to simulate portions of the figure of the animal the head portion of the sion of one of said figure comprising an exte. members.

4. A blank of semi-ri id sheet material shaped to form a figure simg the human fo which blank when fold- Jr provides a supporting base and a pair of oped. members adapted to form the body of the n dre, one of said opposed members being longitudinally extended to provide a head portion, and the othe of said members being bowed outwardly from the waist to the neck portion of the figure to simulate the bust of a human form in contour when viewed from the side of the figure as distinguished from a front view thereof.

5. In a construction as defined in claim l, an extension formed on one of said opposed members adapted to be bowed across the outer lateral edge of the opposite member with a portion of said extension spaced therefrom for simulating the contour of a p-Wtion of the clothing of the figure when the figure is viewed from the side as distinguished from a front view of the figure.

6. A blank of sem igid sheet material shaped and adapted to be folded to form a figure simulating a human form, whi h blank when folded provides a pair of opposed complementarily formed body portions spaced from each other at the feet to provide a and one of said body forms being provided with a portion adapted to be bowed outwardly from the waist to the neck for simulating the contour of a 11. nan form when viewed from the side means for securing said portion in bowed position.

7. A blank adapted to be folded to form a figure simulating a specific object, which blank when folded provides a pair of opposed generally vertically extending front and rear members spaced at the bottom to provide a supporting base, one of sa. opposed members being provided with. extensions on op osite side edges thereof adapted to be folded 1.0 .d the opposite member and means connec -ng said extenember for retaining sions with the oppo the front and rear IlOF-Jl the side thereof.

NELLIE SPOTTS ELLSWORTH. 

